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Safety and Security

While most travelers to El Salvador experience no safety or security problems, the criminal threat in El Salvador is critical and a Travel Warning for El Salvador is in place. See the section below on crime for additional information.

Political or economic issues in the country may give rise to demonstrations, sit-ins, or protests at any time or place, but these activities occur most frequently in the capital or on its main access roads.  U.S. citizens are cautioned to avoid areas where demonstrations are being held and to follow local news media reports or contact the U.S. Embassy for up-to-date information.  Under Salvadoran law, all foreigners who participate directly or indirectly in the internal political affairs of the country (e.g. political rallies, demonstrations, or protests) may lose the right to remain in El Salvador, regardless of their visa status or residency in El Salvador.

Strong undertows and currents can make swimming at El Salvador's Pacific Coast beaches extremely dangerous even for strong and experienced swimmers.  Since 2008, 12 U.S. citizens have drowned while swimming in Salvadoran waters.  Lifeguards are not present at beaches and lakes and access to medical resources in these areas is limited.

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CRIME: Tens of thousands of U.S. citizens safely visit El Salvador each year for study, tourism, cruise ship visits, business, and volunteer work.  There is no information to suggest that U.S. citizens are specifically targeted by criminals; however, crime and violence are serious problems throughout the country.  Since January 2010, 33 U.S. citizens were murdered in El Salvador, including a nine-year-old child in December 2013.  During the same time period, 366 U.S. citizens reported having their passports stolen, while others were victims of violent crimes.

Typical crimes in El Salvador include extortion, mugging, highway assault, home invasion, and car theft.  Some victims unwittingly wander into gang-controlled territory andmay be targeted, normally at night.  Assaults against police officers have risen, and public shootouts are not uncommon.  Home invasions and/or burglaries of residences during broad daylight are prevalent in affluent residential neighborhoods in San Salvador.  Some of these home invasions occur when individuals posing as deliverymen or as police officers gain access to a home.  Armed robberies of climbers and hikers in El Salvador’s national parks are known to occur, and the Embassy strongly recommends engaging the services of a local guide certified by the national or local tourist authority when hiking in back-country areas -- even within the national parks.  In 2000, the National Civilian Police (PNC) established a special tourist police force (POLITUR) to provide security and assistance to tourists.  It has officers located in 19 tourist destinations.

A majority of serious crimes in El Salvador are never solved; only 6 of the 33 murders of U.S. citizens since January 2010 have resulted in convictions.  The Government of El Salvador lacks sufficient resources to properly investigate and prosecute cases and to deter violent crime.  While several of the PNC’s investigative units have shown great promise, routine street level patrol techniques, anti-gang, and crime suppression efforts are limited.  Equipment shortages (particularly radios, vehicles, and fuel) further limit their ability to deter or respond to crimes effectively.

El Salvador, a country of roughly six million people, has, according to Government of El Salvador statistics, thousands of known gang members from several gangs including Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Eighteenth Street (M18).  Gang members are quick to engage in violence or use deadly force if resisted.  These “maras” concentrate on narcotics and arms trafficking, murder for hire, car-jacking, extortion, and violent street crime.  A significant number of disappearances are believed by authorities to be related to gang activity, since many of the missing are in gangs or are friends or family members of gang members.  Police sources claim that the families of gang members often face the same risks of being killed or disappearing as the gang members themselves.

Extortion is a particularly serious and very common crime in El Salvador.  Some extortion attempts are no more than random cold calls that originate from imprisoned gang members using cellular telephones, and the subsequent threats against the victim are made through social engineering and/or through information obtained about the victim’s family.  U.S. citizens who are visiting El Salvador for extended periods are at higher risk for extortion demands.  .  Many extortions are not reported by victims for fear of reprisal and lack of faith in the ability of the government to protect the victims.

Travelers should remain in groups and avoid remote or isolated locations in order to minimize their vulnerability.  Travelers should also avoid displaying or carrying valuables in public places.  Passports and other important documents should not be left in private vehicles.  U.S. Embassy security officials advise all U.S. Government personnel not to walk, run, or cycle in the unguarded streets and parks of El Salvador, even in groups, and recommend exercising only in gyms and fitness centers.  Criminals often become violent quickly, especially when victims fail to cooperate immediately in surrendering valuables.  Frequently, victims who argue with assailants or refuse to give up their valuables are shot.  U.S. citizens in El Salvador should exercise caution at all times and practice good personal security procedures throughout their stay.

Armed holdups of vehicles traveling on El Salvador's roads are common, and we encourage U.S. citizens to remain aware of their surroundings.  The U.S. Embassy warns its personnel to drive with their doors locked and windows raised.  Avoid travel outside of major metropolitan areas after dark and on unpaved roads at all times because of criminal assaults and lack of police and road service facilities.  Armed assaults and carjackings take place both in San Salvador and in the interior of the country, but are especially frequent on roads outside the capital where police patrols are scarce.  Criminals have been known to follow travelers from the El Salvador International Airport to private residences or secluded stretches of road where they carry out assaults and robberies.  Armed robbers are known to shoot if the vehicle does not come to a stop.  Travelers with conspicuous amounts of luggage, late-model cars, or foreign license plates are particularly vulnerable to crime, even in the capital.

Travel on public transportation, especially buses, both within and outside the capital, is risky and not recommended.  The Embassy advises official visitors and personnel to avoid using mini-buses and regular buses and to use only radio-dispatched taxis or those stationed in front of major hotels.

U.S. citizens using banking services should be vigilant while conducting their financial exchanges either inside local banks or at automated teller machines (ATMs).  Recently, there have been cases reported in which criminals observe and follow customers making withdrawals at ATMs and banks, and then rob them on the road or at a residence. U.S. citizens have also been victimized at well-known restaurants, hotels, and retailers within San Salvador.  Credit card cloning and similar fraud is also common in El Salvador.  .  Using a credit card is safer than using an ATM card or Debit card to pay.  With ATM or Debit cards, the money is transferred out of the account at the very moment of the transaction, and it is often not recoverable or contestable.

For your security, we recommend the following to avoid becoming a victim of credit card fraud: notify the card issuer of your travel plans, check your statements frequently, limit the number of credit cards you have and/or carry with you, limit the locations that you regularly use your card(s), maintain direct visual contact with your credit cards at all times, and shred all receipts.  If you become a victim of credit card fraud, contact your bank’s fraud hotline and cancel your card immediately.  They will ask you for information and will usually then send you an affidavit to sign, affirming you did not make the charges.

U.S. citizens are advised not to purchase counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available.  Not only are counterfeit goods illegal in the United States -- if you purchase them, you may also be breaking the local law.

VICTIMS OF CRIME: If you, or someone you know, become the victim of a crime abroad, you should contact the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  We can:

  • Replace a stolen passport.
  •  Help you find appropriate medical care if you are the victim of violent crimes such as assault or rape.
  •  Put you in contact with the appropriate police authorities, and if you want us to, we can contact family members or friends.
  •  Help you understand the local criminal justice process and direct you to local attorneys; although, it is important to remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting the crime.

Victims of crime should bear in mind that law enforcement resources are limited and judicial processes are uneven in El Salvador.  Most crimes in the country (including murder) go unsolved, and the likelihood for redress through the judicial system is limited.  As a result, only a small percentage of cases result in conviction.

The local equivalent to the “911” emergency line in El Salvador is also 911.

Please see our information on victims of crime, including possible victim compensation programs in the United States.

Safety and Security Flag

Population: 6,486,205


Total Land Area: 20,720 km2


Population/km2: 313.04